There was a sense of deja vu in the Principality of Monaco as the hosts beat Barca for the second time this season , but the first in official competition. Though the Gamper Trophy is never really taken seriously, the ease with which the Ligue 1 side earned their pre-season win might’ve given Hansi Flick some cause for concern. The manager apparently watched videos of the game in the lead up to Thursday night’s defeat, and even if it afforded him some clues as to where things went wrong last time, they couldn’t be put right in their Champions League game.
Let’s take a look at three things of interest during the match...
Ter Stegen can consider himself lucky it wasn’t a hammering Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images There are some that subscribe to the view that Marc-Andre ter Stegen just isn’t that good. That his distribution is poor, his decision making isn’t in keeping with his often excellent shot-stopping, and his rickets in goal make his defenders nervous. I’ve not been one to subscribe to that view previously, but it certainly applies after a catastrophic performance.
The keeper was absolutely at fault for Eric Garcia’s red card, and he gave the ball away so often that he was lucky that Monaco perhaps weren’t at their best. Ter Stegen will also be in the spotlight for the winning goal. George Ilenikhena’s shot was powerfully hit but seemed to be straight at the German, who could only deflect it into the back of the net.
Yamal stars but Barca lack presence in midfield For much of their performance against Monaco, it was like watching Barca of old. A team that are too often lightweight in midfield and players who are routinely bullied off the ball. Whilst it’s ostensibly true that culers want to see open, attractive football within a possession-based game, sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up and put in a shift.
If that means putting the beautiful game to one side in order to get the result, then so be it. The one player who did provide some magic on the night was, of course, Lamine Yamal. 17-year-old struck an excellent first Champions League goal of his career to give Barca hope of snatching a result after a good ball from Marc Casado.
Yamal is now the second youngest goalscorer in Champions League history, after team-mate Ansu Fati, on a night where he showed yet again just how important he is to this team already. Tough night for Pedri Photo by Vasile Mihai-Antonio/Getty Images Another unsual facet of Barca’s play was the almost complete lack of being able to put a string of passes together. Pedri was particularly guilty on the night but he was by no means the only one.
Eric Garcia’s red card would’ve forced a rethink in terms of shape, and really didn’t help Pedri as he had to drop back, but that doesn’t excuse the type of passing that you rarely see from a Barcelona side. Hit and hope would sum up much of it, with the accuracy just not there either. As for the movement of the players, well, there wasn’t much at all.
We can be mad at players not making a pass and then losing possession, but if his team-mates aren’t showing, then what are they to do?.
